Unit-handling apparatus

ABSTRACT

Unit-handling apparatus for &#39;&#39;&#39;&#39;unit sets&#39;&#39;&#39;&#39; which are multiple-web packets useful in computer technology wherein separator fingers, elevator fingers and pushers all cooperate in assembling the unit sets into precise stacks both dimensionally and as to number.

United States Patent inventors Appl. No.

Filed Patented Assignee Harvey 1. Spencer;

Ernst Daniel Nystrand, both of Green Bay, Wis.

June 3, 1969 Aug. 1 7, 197 1 Paper Converting Machine Company, inc.Green Bay, Wis.

UNIT-HANDLING APPARATUS 2 Clalms, 12 Drawing Figs.

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ill'illlill will" g int Mug L1 "M "Inn [56] Relerences Cited UNITEDSTATES PATENTS 3,141,667 7/1964 Novich 271/71 X 3,254,889 6/1966Nystrand .4 271/69 3,298,683 1/1967 Stroud 271/59 Primary Examiner- EvonC. Blunk Assistant Examiner- Douglas D. Watts AnorneyDawson, Tilton,Fallon 8L Lungmus ABSTRACT: Unit-handling apparatus for unit sets" whichare multiple-web packets useful in computer technology wherein separatorfingers. elevator fingers and pushers all cooperate in assembling theunit sets into precise stacks both dimensionally and as to number.

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FIGII m'vm (ms HARVEY d. SPENCER ERNES DANIEL NYSTRAND BY: 0 JMW ATT'YSUNIT-HANDLING APPARATUS BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF INVENTION Thisinvention is an improvement on E. D. Nystrand U.S. Pat. No. 3,254,889wherein web segments such as paper towels were accumulated into stacksfor subsequent handling.

The instant invention has to do with "unit sets which are employed forintroducing data to computers. A unit set may include a plurality ofpaper sheets united along one edge with interleaving carbons. Desirably,these are provided the ultimate user in precise stacks, both as to shapeand number. In many instances, the unit sets are consecutively numbered.In the past, there has been a problem in providing the unit sets in"square" stacks, i.e., characterized by being shingled." This problemhas been solved in a high-speed, reliable machine according to theinvention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION The invention is described in conjunction with anillustrative embodiment in the accompanying drawing, in which FIG. I isa perspective view of a machine for producing unit sets and whichincorporates the inventive features adjacent the leaving end, i.e., theleft-hand portion of the showing in FIG. I;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary perspective view of the stacking mechanism ofthe machine of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary perspective view of certain cam actuatorsassociated with the stacking devices of FIG. 2 and physically locatedtherebelow in the actual machine;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary side elevational view of the stacking portion ofthe machine featuring the components which operate the elevator fingers;

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 4, being a side elevational view of thestacking portion of the machine, but which features the componentsrelated to the separator fingers;

FIG. 6 is another side elevational view of the machine, essentiallysimilar to FIGS. 4 and 5, but which features the components employed forthe pushing of a completed stack from the stacking mechanism;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary front elevational view as seen along the line7-7 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along the line 8-8 of FIG.5;

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along the line 9-9 of FIG.5;

FIG. I is a front elevational view, partially in section, of thegripping device seen at the extreme upper portion of FIG.

FIG. II is a side elevational view of a modified form of grippingdevice; and

FIG. I2 is a chart showing the movement of the various fingers andpushers during the course of a stacking cycle.

In the above-mentioned Nystrand U.S. Pat. No. 3,254,889, two sets offingers were employed for movement in the stack development path. Oneset of fingers reciprocated while the other set orbited. The orbitingset entered the path to define the end of a previous stack and totemporarily support the thereafter accumulated web elements while thereciprocating fingers delivered the completed stack to an outputconveyor. The principles of the Nystrand invention are employed hereinbut with certain advantageous modifications.

A machine embodying the instant invention is seen in FIG. 1 and isdesignated generally by the numeral 20. At the extreme right-handportion of FIG. 1, the machine is equipped with a plurality of rolls ofpaper such as are designated 21 22, 23, 24, 25, and 26. These aremounted on conventional unwind stands and also provided are a pluralityof rolls of carbon paper as at 27, 28, 29, 30, and 3]. Thus, there areprovided top and bottom sheets from the rolls 26 and 21, with the carbonsheets from the rolls 27-31 being interleaved. For example, the next yto the top sheet is provided from the roll 25 which proceeds downwardlyand under a frame roller 32 while the carbon thereabove is taken fromthe roll 31, also passing under the roller 32 to provide the web 22. Thetopmost sheet is provided by the roll 26 which passes under the frameroller 34. The multi-ply web thus achieved from the rolls 2I3l thenproceeds through the printing section 35, is subsequently unitized,"transversely severed, and numbered in the section generally designated36 and ultimately issues from the lefthand portion of the machine. Atthe extreme lefthand portion of the machine, a conveyor generallydesignated 37 is seen in the process of supporting a plurality of stacksof unit sets as at 38. Each stack 38 may contain 50 unit sets. Each set,in the illustration given is made up of 1 l plies-six white sheets withfive interleaving carbons. The numeral 39 designates a unit set in theprocess of issuing from the manufacturing portion of the machine and isin the further process of being inverted, i.e., flipped over. This isachieved through a gripping mechanism which is particularly advantageousfor producing consecutive ly numbered sets. A unit set is given a numberon its topmost sheet and a given run may include l0,000 unit sets. Byflipping each unit set over as it issues from the machine, each stackwill have at its bottom the lowest numbered unit set. Hence, the unitsets in stack 38 will be numbered on their bottom-facing side from I toS0 in proceeding from the bottom to the top and the stack 38a similarlyarranged but numbered, for example, from 51 to 100. Thus, by invertingthe stack 38, the lowest numbered unit set is positioned uppermost andaggregated stacks can be provided wherein the unit sets areconsecutively numbered. Were it not for the inverting step provided at39, it would be necessary to number the unit sets in reverse fashionwhich presents substantial operating difficulties.

As a particular unit set is inverted as at 39 by the gripping mechanismgenerally designated 40 in FIG. 1, the same is introduced into thestacking mechanism, a portion of which can be seen in perspective inFIG. 2. If the particular unit set 39 is the first of the given stack,it is deposited on a plurality of separator fingers 41. These fingers 41are employed to separate one stack from another and can be characterizedas diving" into the flow of unit sets delivered by the grippingmechanism so as to separate one stack from another. As the stack beginsto build on the separator fingers 41, the fingers 41 continue in anorbital path downwardly. ultimately depositing the partially completedstack on elevator fingers 42. Thereafter the separator fingers 41retract, complete the orbit and are poised for entry into the stackassembling path after the deposited stack reaches the predeterminednumber.

In turn, the elevator fingers 42 proceed downwardly to deposit acompleted stack on stationary table fingers 43. During this time theseparator fingers are supporting a partially completed stack asufficient distance above the completed stack to permit pusher elements44 to move the completed stack on to the conveyor 37 which, in FIG. 2 isseen to include a plurality of tapes 45. The various movements of thefingers and pushers are achieved mechanically through linkages governedby the cam arrangement seen in FIG. 3. For ease of understanding, thecomponents responsible for the various operations have been separatedinto a series of elevational views. For example, FIGS. 4, 5 and 6 eachshow the same camshaft 46 but with different actuated components.

Turning now to FIG. 4, it will be noted that the camshafi 46 is at thelower left-hand portion of the view and is suitably journaled in theframe 47. A cam 48 is fixed to the shaft 46 and this governs thereciprocation of the elevator fingers 42 (seen in the middle left handportion of FIG. 4). In FIG. 4, the table fingers 43 are seen a spaceddistance below the elevator fingers 42 and it will be appreciated thatthe lowest point of reciprocation of the elevator fingers 42 is slightlybelow the top of the table fingers 43. The linkage system transmittingpower (dictated by the contour of cam 48) to the elevator fingers 42 isseen in the lower portion of FIG. 4. A pivot arm 49 is pivotally mountedon a shaft 50 suitably mounted in the frame 47. The pivot arm 49 isequipped with a cam follower 51 which follows the contour of the cam 48by virtue of the biasing spring 52. The pivot arm 49 has fixed to it anarm portion 53, thereby developing an L-shaped configuration. The spring52 extends between the arm portion 53 and the frame 47, thereby tendingto rotate the L-shaped arm 49 in a clockwise direction around the pivotshaft 50. This insures that the cam follower 51 will be urged againstthe contour of the cam 48. It also means that the elevator fingers 42are resiliently urged upwardly so that any extraordinary load can beaccommodated by the fingers 42 dropping downwardly against the biasimparted by the spring 52.

Coupling the pivot arm 49 to the elevator fingers 42 is a connecting rod54 (these elements also being seen in FIG. 3 at the right-hand portionthereof). The connecting rod 54in turn is pivotally coupled to a roundshaft 55 which slides in a fixed block 56 attached to the frame 47.Suitable brackets are provided for this purpose and at the upper end theround shaft 55 is coupled by means of a block 57 and clamp 58 to theplurality of elevator fingers 42. The illustrative machine is equippedwith 9 elevator fingers 42 as can be appreciated from a consideration ofFIG. 7. In FIG. 7, the block 57 is seen to extend over a substantialportion of the width of the machine so as to support the various fingers42 at horizontally spaced apart points.

The upper portion of FIG. 4 illustrates the gripper mechanism 40 whichis arranged to receive successive unit sets as illustrated schematicallyby the numeral 39a at the extreme upper right-hand portion of FIG. 4.Just prior to entering the apparatus portion seen in FIG. 4, the unitsets are developed by passing through a suitable cutoff roll arrangementand are advanced by means of a conveyor generally designated 59 toafford a discrete separation between successive unit sets. Thereafter,the leading edge of each unit set enters a gripper 60 under theinfluence of a tucker 61, and as the gripper-carrying roll 62 rotates,the particular unit set is caused to flip over as is designatedschematically by the numeral 39 in FIG. 4.

As a stack is completed on the elevator fingers 42, the inventionprovides for the insertion of the separator fingers 41 into the stackingpath. The mechanism responsible for this is seen in FIG. which, it willbe appreciated, represents essentially a difierent vertical longitudinalsection of the machine as compared to FIG. 4. The element arrangement inFIG. 5 is somewhat more complicated than that in FIG. 4 because theseparator fingers 41 require 2 of movement as contrasted to the simplereciprocation characteristic of the elevator fingers of FIG. 4. For thispurpose, two cam followers are required as at 63 and 64 in the lowerleft-hand portion of FIG. 5. The cam follower 63 is responsible for thein and out" movement of the separator fingers 41. The cam follower 63 ismounted on a generally L-shaped arm 65 which is pivotally mountedrelative to the frame 47 by means of the cross-shaft 50. At its upperend, the L-shaped arm 65 is urged in a clockwise fashion about the pivotshaft 50 by means of a spring 66, connected at one end to the frame 47.The other end of the spring 66 is coupled to the upwardly extendingportion 67 of the L-shaped arm 65. Also coupled to the upwardlyextending portion 67 is a connecting rod 68. The connecting rod 68 inturn is coupled to a pair of arms 69 mounted pivotally relative to theframe by means of a cross-shaft 70. For example, the cross-shaft 70 canbe seen in FIG. 8, as can the arms 69. The connection between theconnecting rod 68 and the arms 69 is adjustable by virtue of anelongated slot 7l provided in the arms 69--this making possible controlof the length of movement in and out" of the separator fingers 4 l Attheir upper ends, the arms 69 are connected to a block 71 which isslidably mounted on a tube 72 (see also FIG. 8). The fingers 41 are seenin FIG. 5 to be attached to the block 71 so as the block 71 moves alongthe tube 72 (under the arcuate movement of the arm 69), the separatorfingers move in and out. More particularly, the block 71 is equippedwith rollers 73 which are received within elongated slots 74 provided inthe arms 69.

To obtain the up and down" movement of the separator fingers 41, the camfollower 64 is employed. It is mounted on an L-shaped rocker arm 75 (seethe central portion of FIG. 5) which is pivotally mounted relative tothe frame by means of a pivot shaft 76. A spring 77 is interposedbetween the frame and the rocker arm 75 to urge the rocker arm clockwiseabout the pivot shaft 76 and to maintain the cam follower 64 against thecontour of the cam 78. The in and out movement of the separator fingers41 is achieved through the cam follower 63 (see FIGS. 5 and 9) followingthe contour of the cams 79 and 79'. The cams 79 and 79 are shrouded bythe frame 47 in FIG. 3. The positions of the earns 48, 78, and 96 aredepicted schematically on FIG. 9. The cam 79 serves as a "lockout" cam,the function of which will be described hereinafter.

The upwardly extending portion 80 of the rocker arm 75 has pivotallyconnected thereto a connecting rod 81. The connecting rod 81 in turn isconnected to a lever 82 pivotally mounted relative to the frame 47 byvirtue of being connected to shaft 83. Again, a slot 84 is interposed inthe connection between the elements 81 and 82 to afford a fine tuning ofthe movement of the separator fingers 41. The rocking action applied tothe lever 82 through the connecting rod 81 is employed to move theseparator fingers 41 up and down by virtue of a bracket 85 fixed both tothe shaft 83 and to the tube 72. Thus, as the shaft 83 rotates under theinfluence of the lever 82, so also does the bracket 85, causing the tube72 to move through essentially a vertical arc.

The elements 86 in FIGS. 5 and 8 are guide bars extending parallel toand below the tube 72, and serve to confine a guide roller 87 which isprovided as part of the block 71. Thus, the block 71 is stabilizedagainst a rotation on the tube 72. As can be seen in FIG. 8, a bar 88 isconnected to the block 71 which supports the nine separator fingers 41(also illustrated in FIG. 7). In FIG. 7, the lower extent of movement ofthe separator fingers 41 is designated at the right-hand side by thenumeral 41'.

Previously, reference was made to the lockout cam 79 (FIG. 9). In FIG. 9it is seen that the lockout cam 79 is fixed to the camshaft 46. Toobtain a multiple number of revolutions of the cam 79' for each camshaftrevolution, a gear train is employed beginning with the gear 89 fixed tothe shaft 46. The gear 89 engages a gear 90 carried by a shaft 91 whichis journaled by means of bearings 92 within the frame 47. The same shaft91 carries a second gear 93 which engages a gear 94 fixed to the cam 78.It will be seen that the gear 94 is journaled by means of bearings 95 onthe shaft 46. The cam followers 63 ride on the periphery of both cams,and it is only when depressions in the earns 79' and 79 are incoincidence that the cam follower arm 65 is able to rock about the axisof the pivot shaft 50.

The design of the mechanism causes the cam 79' to rotate two times perpack for short forms (up to 5% inches), and three times per pack forlong forms (longer than 5% inches). FIG. 9 shows the gear relationshipand FIG. 5 the lockout cam configuration to give a two-time rotation perpack for this cam. When gears 93 and 94 are changed to a I56 to Irelationship and a new lockout cam is used, a three-time rotation perpack is obtained.

After a stack has been deposited on the table fingers 43 (see FIG. 2),the same is advanced horizontally onto the conveyor 37 by means of thepusher elements 44 (see FIG. 6). Again, the actuation of the pusherelements 44 proceeds from the camshaft 46 which carries a cam 96. In thelower portion of FIG. 6 it is seen that a rocker arm 97 carrying a camfollower 98 is pivotally related to the frame 47 by means of the pivotshaft 50. Connected between the upper end of the rocker 97 and anactuator arm 98, is a connecting rod 99. Again a slot 100 is providedfor fine tuning adjustment between the connecting rod 99 and theactuator arm 98. Arcuate motion about the pivot shaft 50 is transferredto the arm 98 which in turn pivots around the axis of the pivot shaft70. A connecting rod 101 is employed to connect the upper end of theactuator arm 98 with the pusher carriage 102 (see the upper left-handportion of FIG. 6). The pusher carriage 102 in FIG. 7 is seen to slideon guide bars 103, the same also being seen in the upper left-handportion of FIG. 6. The pusher carriage 102 advances the 5 pushers 44(see FIG. 7) sufficiently forwardly (in the direction of web movement)so as to engage the successive stacks with the conveyor 37-moreparticularly, the tapes 4S constituting the same.

In FIG. 10 the gripping mechanism 40 of FIG. 4 is seen in frontelevational view. A tucker element 61 is seen to be in interleavedrelation with a gripper element 60, the tucker elements being mounted ona cross-shaft 104 while the gripper elements are mounted on across-shaft 105.

In certain instances, the modified form of gripper seen in FIG. 11 canbe used to advantage. The gripper 106 as shown there is equipped with anelement 107, and this eliminates the necessity of tucking the leadingedge of the unit set 39 into the gripper of the inverting roll. Thelocation of the pivot point 108 of the gripper 106 is such that thegripper, in opening, will move the element 107 forwardly on thecircumference of the roll as well as radially outward-this beingdesignated schematically in FIG. 1 l by the numeral 107'. This allowsthe open gripper element to pass through the path of the unit set 39forward of the leading edge of the unit set 39. After the gripper isthrough the path of the unit set, the gripper element 107 returns to theposition shown, and closes on the leading edge by pivoting back on thecircumference and radially downward.

In the operation of the device, a cycle can be considered to startduring the downward movement of the elevator fingers 42. This can beappreciated from a consideration of FIG. 12 where the elevator fingermovement is presented graphically and designated by the numeral 109. Theelevator fingers 42 are lowered slowly during the retraction of theseparator fingers 41 until the time in the cycle represented by thenumeral I10 is reached, after which the elevator fingers drop rapidly.At point 111, the elevator fingers 42 are below the surface of the tablefingers 43, at which time the pushers 44 remove the completed stack fromthe table fingers onto the conveyor 37. The curve designated by thenumeral 112 in FIG. 12 represents the secondary motion of the separator,fingers 41, i.e., the up and down motion, while the curve designated bythe numeral 113 in FIG. 12 represents the primary motion of theseparator fingers 41, i.e., the in and out movement relative to the pathof stack formation.

During the period from point 111 on the curve 109 until the elevatorfingers 42 start to raise (90), the pushers 44 are stripping the stackonto the conveying table, this movement being indicated by the numeralI14. For the next 90, the pushers 44 are being retracted, this beingindicated at 115. The pushers 44 then remain at rest for 180. It shouldbe appreciated that the fingers 41 are tucked up into the inverting rollprior to their movement. This allows the fingers to move toward thestacking area, and to start pivoting downward prior to entering thestacking area. This allows the fingers to have a forward and downwardvelocity prior to the separation period. By entering the stacking areafrom the roll, the location of the unit set leading edge is assuredduring separation.

OPERATION In the operation of the device, a square, viz. unshingled,stack is achieved through the cooperation of the various elements in thedevice, particularly the pusher elements 44 which are arranged to removea completed stack from the vertical path for deposition on the tapes 45.The cam 90, responsible for controlling the movement of the pusherelements 44, is so contoured as to horizontally move the pusher elements44 at a speed somewhat greater than the horizontal speed of the tapes45. This results in sequentially delivered stacks having a minimumspacing, thereby requiring a relatively small area of valuable floorspace. Additionally, the pushers maintain the stack square during thecrucial point of transfer by continually applying a distributed forceagainst the trailing edges of the various superposed unit sets.Previously it was not possible to achieve the minimum spacing. Thejogger usually employed to achieve a square stack prevented this. It wasalso not possible to apply a horizontal force distributed over a numb ofvertical lines, as is provided herein by the pusher elements 44.

Further, it is relatively simple to adjust the inventive apparatus so asto achieve proper interrelation or synchronism of the various movingparts. A reference has been made to fine tuning" mechanisms which can beadjusted by an artisan in the field. The machine can be turned overslowly so as to gauge the interrelation, for example, of the separatorfingers 41, the elevator fingers 42, and the pusher elements 44. Thesehave been previously referred to as the slots 71 and 84 relative to theseparator fingers 41, and the slot relative to the pusher elements 44.

We claim:

1. Apparatus for delivering stacks of generally rectangular web unitscomprising a frame equipped with means for delivering objects to bestacked over a generally vertically disposed path, said frame beingequipped with a generally horizontally extending conveyor and first andsecond stacksupporting elongated fingers in said path, means on saidframe for reciprocating said first stack-supporting fingers in said pathwith the lowest point of reciprocation being below said conveyor wherebya stack is adapted to be transferred from said first stack-supportingfingers to said conveyor, said reciprocating means including cam meansfor maintaining said first stack-supporting fingers at the lowest pointin said path for a predetermined time, means on said frame for orbitingsaid second stack-supporting fingers in a generally vertical plane sothat the vertically downwardly portion of the orbit is in said path andso that said second stack-supporting fingers, when near the lowest pointof said orbit portion, are below the first stack-supporting fingerswhereby a partial stack is transferable from said secondstack-supporting fingers to said first stack-supporting fingers andremoval means for transferring a stack of units from said firststack-supporting fingers to said conveyor, said removal means includinga plurality of stationary horizontally spaced apart elongated tablefingers on said frame at the bottom of said path arranged to receive aunit stack from said first stack-supporting fingers, said firststack-supporting fingers and table fingers being mounted with theirlengths in parallel ofiset relation whereby said first stacksupportingfingers are adapted to pass between said table fingers, in depositing astack thereon a pusher mechanism on said frame equipped with a pluralityof horizontally upstanding pusher elements spaced apart to pass betweensaid table fingers and said first stack-supporting fingers tohorizontally move a unit stack from said table fingers, and means onsaid frame synchronized with said means for reciprocating said firststack-supporting fingers for moving said pusher mechanism while saidfirst stack-supporting fingers are maintained at said lowest point insaid path, and said conveyor including tape means aligned with saidtable fingers for receiv ing stacks moved therefrom by said pushermechanism.

2. Apparatus for delivering stacks of generally rectangular web unitscomprising a frame equipped with means for delivering objects to bestacked over a generally vertically disposed path, said frame beingequipped with a generally horizontally extending conveyor and first andsecond stacksupporting fingers in said path, means on said frame forreciprocating said first stack-supporting fingers in said path with thelowest point of reciprocation being below said conveyor whereby a stackis adapted to be transferred from said first stack-supporting fingers tosaid conveyor, means on said frame for orbiting said secondstack-supporting fingers in a generally vertical plane so that thevertically downwardly portion of the orbit is in said path and so thatsaid second stacksupporting fingers, when near the lowest point of saidorbit portion, are below the first stack-supporting fingers whereby apartial stack is transferable from said second stack-supporting fingersto said first stack-supporting finger, the improvement characterized bythe fact that said apparatus includes removal means for transferring astack of units from said first stackmeans for orbiting said secondstack-supporting fingers including two cams interconnected so that thesecond cam rotates faster than the first cam, power from said second cambeing delivered to said second stack-supporting fingers, said cams beingcontoured so that said first cam serves as a lockout cam for said secondcam.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3 599,805 Dated August 17 1971 Inventor(s) Harvey J. Spencer and Ernst DanielNystrand It is certified that error appears in the above-identifiedpatent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Column 7, line 2 (claim 2 line 21) before "fingers" insert table Signedand sealed this lith day of January 1972.

(SEAL) Attest EDWARD M.FLET0HER,JR. ROBERT GOTTSCHALK Attesting OfficerActing Commissioner of Patents RM PO-105O (TO-69) USCOMM-DC 60375-P69 fiU 5 GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFHCE: I969 0-366-334

1. Apparatus for delivering stacks of generally rectangular web unitscomprising a frame equipped with means for delivering objects to bestacked over a generally vertically disposed path, said frame beingequipped with a generally horizontally extending conveyor and first andsecond stack-supporting elongated fingers in said path, means on saidframe for reciprocating said first stack-supporting fingers in said pathwith the lowest point of reciprocation being below said conveyor wherebya stack is adapted to be transferred from said first stack-supportingfingers to said conveyor, said reciprocating means including cam meansfor maintaining said first stack-supporting fingers at the lowest pointin said path for a predetermined time, means on said frame for orbitingsaid second stack-supporting fingers in a generally vertical plane sothat the vertically downwardly portion of the orbit is in said path andso that said second stack-supporting fingers, when near the lowest pointof said orbit portion, are below the first stack-supporting fIngerswhereby a partial stack is transferable from said second stacksupportingfingers to said first stack-supporting fingers and removal means fortransferring a stack of units from said first stack-supporting fingersto said conveyor, said removal means including a plurality of stationaryhorizontally spaced apart elongated table fingers on said frame at thebottom of said path arranged to receive a unit stack from said firststack-supporting fingers, said first stack-supporting fingers and tablefingers being mounted with their lengths in parallel offset relationwhereby said first stack-supporting fingers are adapted to pass betweensaid table fingers, in depositing a stack thereon a pusher mechanism onsaid frame equipped with a plurality of horizontally upstanding pusherelements spaced apart to pass between said table fingers and said firststack-supporting fingers to horizontally move a unit stack from saidtable fingers, and means on said frame synchronized with said means forreciprocating said first stack-supporting fingers for moving said pushermechanism while said first stack-supporting fingers are maintained atsaid lowest point in said path, and said conveyor including tape meansaligned with said table fingers for receiving stacks moved therefrom bysaid pusher mechanism.
 2. Apparatus for delivering stacks of generallyrectangular web units comprising a frame equipped with means fordelivering objects to be stacked over a generally vertically disposedpath, said frame being equipped with a generally horizontally extendingconveyor and first and second stack-supporting fingers in said path,means on said frame for reciprocating said first stack-supportingfingers in said path with the lowest point of reciprocation being belowsaid conveyor whereby a stack is adapted to be transferred from saidfirst stack-supporting fingers to said conveyor, means on said frame fororbiting said second stack-supporting fingers in a generally verticalplane so that the vertically downwardly portion of the orbit is in saidpath and so that said second stack-supporting fingers, when near thelowest point of said orbit portion, are below the first stack-supportingfingers whereby a partial stack is transferable from said secondstack-supporting fingers to said first stack-supporting finger, theimprovement characterized by the fact that said apparatus includesremoval means for transferring a stack of units from said firststack-supporting fingers to said conveyor, said removal means includinga plurality of horizontally spaced apart fingers on said frame at thebottom of said path arranged to receive a unit stack from said firststack-supporting fingers as said first stack fingers pass between saidtable fingers, a pusher mechanism on said frame equipped with aplurality of upstanding pusher elements arranged to pass between saidtable fingers to horizontally move a unit stack from said table fingers,said means for orbiting said second stack-supporting fingers includingtwo cams interconnected so that the second cam rotates faster than thefirst cam, power from said second cam being delivered to said secondstack-supporting fingers, said cams being contoured so that said firstcam serves as a lockout cam for said second cam.